Comments witmol has made

  • If you don't have a clothesline, how do you play goon of fortune? (Australian joke...) The bylaws of my apartment block say I can't use a line but won't say why, so I just bought a portable line and tuck it behind the balcony wall. No one can see it, and I haven't gotten in trouble in the 3 years of living here.On A surprising sneak peek at the clothesline revolution posted 3 days, 14 hours ago 33 Responses

  • I agree with Askantik, I think we need to talk about viable alternatives. If I give up flying, I can pretty much forget travel altogether.

    Coming from Australia, it takes three days to cross from Sydney to Perth by train, and if you don't want to sleep in the seat, it costs about $2700 return. Compare this with my recent jaunt to Japan which took 10 hours each way by plane and cost about $2700 for airfare, my accommodation AND a two-week pass on the Shinkansen and I can see where two weeks and $2700 is better spent, lovely as the Nullarbor is (though I am planning this trip...).

    I have changed my lifestyle quite a bit in the last decade to accommodate the environment, but I'm going to start thinking life's not worth living if I can't travel overseas once every four years.

    On Ask Umbra on flying less posted 3 months, 1 week ago 17 Responses

  • Gel not for down there

    Just in reply to shastaBlue's comment:

    "I really appreciate the suggestion from witmol above on how to do it but my down below is pretty sensitive and I try to keep any and all anti-bac products away from it so I don't kill any happy microorganisms that should be living there. Does anyone have any other ways of doing it?"

    The gel never touches your 'down there', it is for hygiene purposes to clean your hands before you exit the stall so the lock and handle don't carry any secretions of yours for the next person who uses it.On A review of eco-minded feminine products posted 1 year ago 46 Responses

  • Cleaning the cup

    Re: Cleaning a cup in a shared bathroom? (rivergirl)

    Required:
    1 x small bottle of antibacterial hand gel
    1 x paper towel

    Rip paper towel in half.
    Damp one half and keep the other dry.
    Enter stall.
    Open bottle of hand gel, sit it on the floor.
    Remove cup, empty in toilet, do your business, flush.
    Wipe cup with damp half of paper towel.
    Reinsert.
    Dry hands with dry half, wrap around damp (bloody) half and dispose in sanitary waste bin.
    Use hand gel to clean hands to get out of stall.
    Exit. (Washing hands recommended).

    The best thing about the Diva Cup is that you get to know your cycle really well. For example, I know if it is day 2 of my period, I may need to empty the cup twice on an ordinary day of work but on day 3 it is only once. On day 1, 4 & 5 it can wait until I get home and I don't have to use hand gel or the paper towel.

    I also sleep much, much better with a cup than ever have with any other form of sanitary solution because I don't have to worry about spillage when turning.On A review of eco-minded feminine products posted 1 year ago 46 Responses

  • Hug away

    Hug them and make sure you have the piece of trash in your hand when you do. They soon learn to stop doing it (at least around you).

    I've picked up cigarette butts people have newly discarded on the ground and said: "Excuse me sir/madam, you dropped something!" and then either put the butt in their hand or in/on anything they are carrying. Point made.On Umbra on deflecting eco-insults posted 1 year, 1 month ago 18 Responses

  • Transfers

    The cost argument is probably the biggest hurdle because we all know most record companies are money-grabbing and eco-unfriendly.

    If the train is indeed quicker and requires less in terms of transfers, then you need to factor the cost of time and the cost of transfers to make a true comparison.

    And don't forget that for some people, 'less hassles' and 'no need to pack carefully' is priceless.On Umbra on short-haul flights posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses

  • A combination

    If you can find a decent pair of used shoes, then get them resoled to avoid back/knee problems.

    Personally, I find it difficult to buy shoes that I like and that fit, even in regular stores, so I tend to buy good quality shoes and then resole them when they wear down.

    Nothing has been kinder to my feet than leather so if anyone can find me a local (Sydney, Australia) store that sells an eco-friendlier alternative of the same comfort and quality, please post here. I don't really think air mail order is going to help the planet.On Umbra on leather vs. pleather shoes posted 1 year, 10 months ago 22 Responses

  • Water restrictions

    Greetings from Australia, land of the hot and dry. We've been under water restrictions for several years now (no hosing or sprinklers, watering before dawn and after dusk on Sundays and Wednesdays only etc etc) so we've all developed a few water-saving techniques for the garden.

    IronRinger's bucket suggestion is one of our favourites (it works for dishwater as well provided you're using an enviro-friendly dishwashing liquid), and you can also wash your car or your dog on the lawn (again with the enviro-friendly washing liquid) if you can do it efficiently.

    But the biggest help is mulch, which provides a barrier between the sun and your precious soil to help stop dehydration. Do a bit of research as to the type of mulch suitable for your area. Some types of mulch is as good as companion planting in terms of keeping creepy crawlies away from your edible plants, for example.On Umbra on watering the yard posted 2 years, 7 months ago 7 Responses